JC Raulston Arboretum e-Update
June 2018
Your Monthly News and Updates
Director's Note

By Mark Weathington, Director

As you read this, I will be finishing up what promises to be a glorious tour of the Chelsea Flower Show and some of the great gardens of London, Kent, and Oxford with a group of Arboretum travelers. Getting out and visiting other gardens is a great inspiration whether you cross the Atlantic or just cross the road. I've had my best ideas, seen so many new plants, and learned innovative gardening techniques in gardens great and small. As the summer temperatures start to soar, I hope they won't keep you from visiting the JC Raulston Arboretum and other gardens at home or abroad!
 
See you in the garden.
The Gardens of England Are a Delight

By Arlene Calhoun, Assistant Director

I'm writing this on our bus as we travel from Tunbridge Wells to Oxford. Our trip started with a tour along the River Thames to our first garden, the Field House. A small Asian inspired garden complete with a resident tortoise and collection of ceramics. The design and plant selection of this small slice of paradise was the perfect start for this group of plant enthusiasts. We left excited and energized for day two and the Chelsea Flower Show.
 
Chelsea brought breathtaking awe-inspiring displays from the double begonia blooms the size of small cabbage heads to the delphiniums reaching the heights of their admirers. A day at Chelsea is one to be remembered. Strolling the pavilion through collection after collection of the latest flowering trends leaves you wishing the day will never end.
 
We’ve visited eleven gardens in seven days and I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. The slice of history told by the owners, head gardeners or directors of each garden adds to the excitement and energy of these notable spaces. From the meadows of Great Dixter to the stumpery at Moleshill House, we are inspired and humbled by these living historic spaces and grateful for the companionship and knowledge of our traveling plant enthusiasts.
 
The Cotswold gardens are on the road ahead and are sure to be magnificent. Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court, and Blenheim Palace are some of the headliners for the next few days. The views from our coach make the ride pass quickly as we watch the sheep, many of them young lambs, graze in fields of buttercups. And the conversation turns very quickly to where are we headed next. This group of travelers are looking ahead for their next plant adventure. Many will be joining us in January as we explore New Zealand. Interested? We have a few spaces available and we'd love to have you join us. See all the details on our Web site .
Summer Days, New Shirts

By Kathryn Wall, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

New JCRA T-shirts and other items of apparel are here, just in time for hot summer days. A new JCRA ball cap or visor not only keeps the sun out of your eyes, but makes a great gift. We've restocked all caps and visors, and added some fun colors.

Back by popular demand, we have a women's fitted short sleeve shirt featuring our classic maple design. Or if you're headed for a cooler climate, take along one of our new zipper neck sweatshirts featuring this design on heather black or heather red.

Sure to be a favorite is our new unisex heather indigo short sleeve shirt featuring the JCRA logo in white. And our popular 2018 Illicium botanical shirts are beginning to sell out, so make sure you get yours before they are gone.

We have a ll sizes small through 2XL (some in 3XL). T-shirts are $15.00 each. Caps and visors are $20.00 each. Sweatshirts are $30.00 each. All are available for purchase in the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center and the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center.
Do you have extra garden books around your house? Did you know that you can donate them to the Arboretum? Bring your books to donate to the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center Monday – Friday during business hours, or call Kathryn Wall at (919) 513-7004 to make alternate arrangements. If you wish to receive a tax donation form, please complete an in-kind donation form (available in the McSwain Center) and provide a list of books and estimated values.
New Staff Member

By Alycia Thornton, Director of Development

I am joining the JCRA team as director of development. With Sonia Murphy becoming the assistant dean of CALS Advancement, I'll be taking on Sonia's role at the JCRA. I joined CALS Advancement in 2016 and have served as director of development for the NC FFA (Future Farmers of America) Foundation. Originally from Newton Grove, North Carolina, I have a bachelor's degree in agriculture education from NC State University. I am excited to work with the JC Raulston Arboretum and to have the opportunity to work with our inspiring leaders, dedicated volunteers, and many supporters. You can reach me at alycia_thornton@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7068.
Herbaceous Perennials Propagation Class and Demonstration

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator

Propagating plants is rewarding, often easily done, and is a great way to add plants to your landscape. Join Doug Ruhren on Saturday, June 23 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in this propagation class and demonstration focused solely on propagating herbaceous perennials. Techniques discussed include division, stem and leaf cuttings, and seed and other techniques. Doug will demonstrate each of the techniques discussed and show class participants how they can propagate perennials at home using simple techniques. Some of the newly propagated plants are shared with the students.
Out and about in the Garden

By Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager

The summer 2018 crop of JCRA interns started two weeks ago and it has been glorious to have their help in the garden. Huge thanks to those who funded their positions. One big project the interns accomplished already is they laid sod in the center bed of the Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden last week. They also scrubbed the outside of the Yurt in preparation for summer camp. And they have gotten a good start on sticking cuttings and potting seedlings so there will be plants a plenty for all of the JCRA programs. In between all of this, they have weeded and mulched and performed many other essential tasks.

I would be remiss to not at least thank all of the JCRA volunteers who do so much for the Arboretum out of the generosity of their hearts and the sweat of their brows. The Arboretum would not be what it is without their help.

And about that sod in the Rose Garden. The solid green oval really sets off the outer beds and their cacophony of color. The main purpose of this change is to make the Rose Garden a more rentable space. Remember that the Arboretum has to produce the vast majority of its income one way or another and rentals are a significant means to this end. This past Saturday there were six, yes six, weddings at the Arboretum, five in the White Garden and one on the A. E. Finley Rooftop Terrace. The new turf does look great and though I do admit that I suggested we should sod the whole Arboretum, I was not serious.

There have been questions from recent visitors regarding pest control in the Rose Garden. It's a no-spray garden so we are trialing roses purported to be disease-resistant and I must say that there are many gorgeous black-spot resistant selections. This winter we eliminated quite a few unsatisfactory cultivars. The rose breeders have come a long way. As to insect pests, in my many decades growing roses including ten years in a rose garden, insects are most often not a big problem.

Plant sales through the Arboretum’s little plant cart by the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center have been superb this year, so thank you to all who have purchased plants. We are working hard to keep it well stocked and do restock it about three times a week. Unfortunately we did suffer a setback this weekend: someone unbolted the burglar-proof steel tube and made off with an unknown amount of money. Well at least good plants ended up in good gardens.
Welcome to Our 2018 Summer Interns

By Lisa Meares, Project Manager, CALS Advancement

The JC Raulston Arboretum welcomes our summer 2018 interns (left to right):

  • Libby Indermaur – Junior in horticultural science
  • Olivia Watson (education intern) – just graduated from agriculture education with concentration in horticultural science
  • Clayton Smith – Second year graduate student in landscape architecture
  • Shelby Ferrell – Sophmore in agriculture science with concentration in horticultural science and crop science
  • Adam DeRose – Senior in horticultural science with concentration in landscape design
Upcoming Events
Friday, June 1
10:00 AM

Chris Glenn and Douglas Ruhren, JCRA Staff
Saturday, June 2
9:00 AM
Full—Waitlist Started

"All Abuzz: Plants for Pollinators and Caterpillars"
Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Tuesday, June 5
9:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Friday, June 8
10:00 AM

Friday, June 15
10:00 AM

Monday–Friday, June 18–22
9:00 AM
Full—Waitlist Started

"Composition"
Susan Bailey, Susan Bailey Photography
Thursday, June 21
10:00 AM

Douglas Ruhren, Gardens Manager
Saturday, June 23
9:00 AM

Monday–Friday, June 25–29
9:00 AM

"Four Seasons of Fragrant Flowers"
Cindy Chappell, Wake County Extension Master Gardener
Monday, June 25
10:00 AM

Presented by NC State's Department of Horticultural Science and the JC Raulston Arboretum
Wednesday, June 27
9:00 AM
Register (for green industry professionals only)

✽Denotes a children's program.

Many programs require advance registration. Please register early to reserve your spot.

Other Dates to Remember

Thursday, June 14
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Coming Attractions
By Nancy Doubarva, JCRA Volunteer
Lilium 'Satisfaction'
hybrid lily
Echinacea 'Conevin'
Purple Fantasy hybrid coneflower
Albizia julibrissin 'Ishii Weeping'
weeping mimosa
Crinum 'Sangria'
crinum lily
Lagerstroemia 'Piilag-III'
Red Rooster hybrid crepe myrtle
Hemerocallis 'Bertie Ferris'
daylily
Hydrangea 'After Midnight'
mophead hybrid hydrangea
Punica granatum (large, double white)
pomegranate
YouTube Channel Update

By Christopher Todd Glenn, Programs and Education Coordinator
One new video was recorded in May and posted to our YouTube Channel . Look for it on our channel or click the graphic below.

Receive announcements about our latest additions by subscribing to our YouTube Channel .
Your Membership Makes a Difference
Please Join or Renew Today!

The JC Raulston Arboretum is free to the public, but it is not free to operate. Memberships keep the gates open and the gardens in top shape. Membership gifts are the primary support for the Arboretum's daily operations and vital for its success. Thank you for your support and advocacy of the JC Raulston Arboretum through the membership program. It's fast and easy to become a Friend of the Arboretum, and there are many great benefits for you and your family. Join or renew now using our secure Web site, or contact Kathryn Wall, membership and volunteer coordinator, at (919) 513-7004 or kbwall@ncsu.edu .
Christopher Todd Glenn
Programs and Education Coordinator
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 513-7005

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